Absorbent article with extensible ears

Abstract

An absorbent article has a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet; first and second opposing longitudinal side edges, a front waist region and a back waist region; and a first and second back ear extending outwardly from the first and longitudinal side edges in the back waist region, respectively. The first and second back ears have a back ear width (W) and include a laminate having an elastomeric material sandwiched between a first nonwoven layer and a second nonwoven layer, wherein the elastomeric material has an elastic material width (Y), and wherein elastic material width (Y) is less than back ear width (W). The first back ear and the second back ear exhibit between about 1% to about 20% of a 4 hour growth when measured according to the 4 hr. Growth Test described herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article comprising:
 a chassis comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet;   a first and a second opposing longitudinal side edge, a front waist region and a back waist region;   a first back ear extending outwardly from the first longitudinal side edge in the back waist region;   a second back ear extending outwardly from the second longitudinal side edge in the back waist region;   
       wherein each of the first and second back ears have a back ear width (W) and comprise a laminate comprising an elastomeric material sandwiched between a first nonwoven layer and a second nonwoven layer, wherein the elastomeric material has an elastic material width (Y), and wherein elastic material width (Y) is less than back ear width (W); and 
       wherein each of the first back ear and the second back ear exhibit between about 1% to about 20% of a 4 hour growth when measured according to the 4 hr. Growth Test described herein. 
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic material width (Y) is less than the back ear width (W) by at least 10 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic material width (Y) is from about 25% to about 85% of the back ear width (W). 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first back ear and the second back ear comprise a first inelastic region. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 4 , wherein the first inelastic region of each of the first back ear and the second back ear extends laterally outward from an inboard edge of each of the first back ear and the second back ear, and wherein the first inelastic region is adjacent to an inboard edge of an elastic region. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first back ear and the second back ear comprises a second inelastic region extending laterally inward from an outboard edge of each of the first back ear and the second back ear. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second back ears has a roughness Ra lower than about 300 when measured according to the Roughness Test described herein. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric material comprises an elastomeric film. 
     
     
         9 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the laminate is a non-activated laminate. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second back ears have an opacity of at least 70 when measured according to the Opacity Test described herein. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second back ears are joined to at least one component of the chassis. 
     
     
         12 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second back ears are integral with the chassis. 
     
     
         13 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the first nonwoven layer and the second nonwoven layer are ultrasonically bonded through the elastomeric material. 
     
     
         14 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the laminate is an extrusion bonded laminate of nonwoven and elastomeric material. 
     
     
         15 . An absorbent article comprising: a chassis comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet;
 first and second opposing longitudinal side edges, a front waist region and a back waist region;   a first back ear extending outwardly from the first longitudinal side edge in the back waist region;   a second back ear extending outwardly from the second longitudinal side edge in the back waist region;   
       a fastening member disposed on each of the first back ear and the second back ear, wherein each of the first and second back ears comprise a laminate having an elastomeric material sandwiched between a first nonwoven layer and a second nonwoven layer, and wherein the first nonwoven layer and the second nonwoven layer are ultrasonically bonded through the elastomeric material; and 
       wherein each of the first and second back ears has a roughness Ra lower than about 300 when measured according to the Roughness Test described herein. 
     
     
         16 . The absorbent article of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first and second back ears has an extension of at least 10 mm at about or below 2N of force when measured according to the Back Ear Extension Test described herein. 
     
     
         17 . The absorbent article of  claim 15 , the at least one of the first and second back ears comprises a non-activated laminate. 
     
     
         18 . The absorbent article of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the first and second back ears have an opacity of at least 70 when measured according to the Opacity Test described herein. 
     
     
         19 . The absorbent article of  claim 15 , wherein each of the first back ear and the second back ear comprise a first inelastic region. 
     
     
         20 . The absorbent article of  claim 19 , wherein the first inelastic region of each of the first back ear and the second back ear extends laterally outward from an inboard edge of each of the first back ear and the second back ear, and wherein the first inelastic region is adjacent to an inboard edge of an elastic region.